PassMark CPU Mark evaluates processor speed through complex mathematical computations. It provides a reliable metric to compare multi-core performance, where higher scores indicate faster processing for multitasking, gaming, and heavy workloads.

Head-to-Head Verdict, Benchmarks, Value & Long-Term Outlook

This comparison brings together gaming FPS, productivity performance, platform differences, power efficiency, pricing context, and upgrade path so you can see which CPU actually makes more sense.

Core i7-13700K

2022

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +17.9% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $12,571 less on MSRP ($409 MSRP vs $12,980 MSRP).
✅Delivers 1652.4% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 111.9 vs 6.4 PassMark/$ ($409 MSRP vs $12,980 MSRP).
✅Draws 125W instead of 350W, a 225W reduction.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel UHD Graphics 770, while Xeon Max 9480 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Lower Geekbench multi-core (18,980 vs 55,000).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (30 MB vs 113 MB).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Xeon Max 9480, which brings 56 cores / 112 threads and 80 PCIe lanes.

Xeon Max 9480

2023

Why buy it

✅+189.8% higher Geekbench multi-core.
✅+275% larger total L3 cache (113 MB vs 30 MB).
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 56 cores / 112 threads, plus 80 PCIe lanes vs 20.
✅300% more PCIe lanes (80 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-13700K across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 6.4 vs 111.9 PassMark/$ ($12,980 MSRP vs $409 MSRP).
❌180% higher power demand at 350W vs 125W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i7-13700K can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core i7-13700K

2022

Xeon Max 9480

2023

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +17.9% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $12,571 less on MSRP ($409 MSRP vs $12,980 MSRP).
✅Delivers 1652.4% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 111.9 vs 6.4 PassMark/$ ($409 MSRP vs $12,980 MSRP).
✅Draws 125W instead of 350W, a 225W reduction.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel UHD Graphics 770, while Xeon Max 9480 needs a discrete GPU.

Why buy it

✅+189.8% higher Geekbench multi-core.
✅+275% larger total L3 cache (113 MB vs 30 MB).
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 56 cores / 112 threads, plus 80 PCIe lanes vs 20.
✅300% more PCIe lanes (80 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower Geekbench multi-core (18,980 vs 55,000).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (30 MB vs 113 MB).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Xeon Max 9480, which brings 56 cores / 112 threads and 80 PCIe lanes.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-13700K across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 6.4 vs 111.9 PassMark/$ ($12,980 MSRP vs $409 MSRP).
❌180% higher power demand at 350W vs 125W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i7-13700K can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i7-13700K better than Xeon Max 9480?

Not in a simple one-size-fits-all way. Xeon Max 9480 makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Core i7-13700K is the better mainstream desktop choice for gaming, platform cost, and day-to-day practicality.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Xeon Max 9480 is the better fit. You are getting 189.8% better Geekbench multi-core, backed by 56 cores and 112 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 275% larger total L3 cache (113 MB vs 30 MB).

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Core i7-13700K is the smarter buy today. Core i7-13700K is $12,571 cheaper on MSRP at $409 MSRP versus $12,980 MSRP, and it gives you a 17.9% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. The trade-off is that Xeon Max 9480 is still stronger for heavier multi-core work with 189.8% better Geekbench multi-core. It is also 1652.4% better value on MSRP (111.9 vs 6.4 PassMark/$), so the better CPU is not just faster, it is also the cleaner value play on paper.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Xeon Max 9480 is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2023 vs 2022), 275% larger total L3 cache (113 MB vs 30 MB), more multi-core headroom with 56 cores / 112 threads instead of 16/24, and AVX-512 support for heavier modern compute workloads. That extra cache should hold up really well in CPU-limited games and high-refresh builds.

Games Benchmarks

Paired with RTX 4090

To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.

Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.

Core i7-13700K Benchmark Check

Xeon Max 9480 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i7-13700K	Xeon Max 9480
1080p
low	284 FPS	186 FPS
medium	268 FPS	168 FPS
high	223 FPS	135 FPS
ultra	190 FPS	109 FPS
1440p
low	238 FPS	153 FPS
medium	200 FPS	129 FPS
high	159 FPS	98 FPS
ultra	139 FPS	81 FPS
4K
low	159 FPS	71 FPS
medium	134 FPS	63 FPS
high	103 FPS	48 FPS
ultra	90 FPS	40 FPS

Open Core i7-13700K Open Xeon Max 9480

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i7-13700K	Xeon Max 9480
1080p
low	689 FPS	246 FPS
medium	580 FPS	221 FPS
high	484 FPS	184 FPS
ultra	439 FPS	146 FPS
1440p
low	595 FPS	205 FPS
medium	525 FPS	187 FPS
high	441 FPS	160 FPS
ultra	378 FPS	124 FPS
4K
low	348 FPS	128 FPS
medium	314 FPS	119 FPS
high	295 FPS	103 FPS
ultra	261 FPS	83 FPS

Open Core i7-13700K Open Xeon Max 9480

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i7-13700K	Xeon Max 9480
1080p
low	648 FPS	815 FPS
medium	530 FPS	738 FPS
high	467 FPS	704 FPS
ultra	405 FPS	624 FPS
1440p
low	591 FPS	725 FPS
medium	491 FPS	652 FPS
high	427 FPS	609 FPS
ultra	371 FPS	548 FPS
4K
low	434 FPS	487 FPS
medium	374 FPS	398 FPS
high	339 FPS	354 FPS
ultra	290 FPS	294 FPS

Open Core i7-13700K Open Xeon Max 9480

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i7-13700K	Xeon Max 9480
1080p
low	970 FPS	1066 FPS
medium	883 FPS	953 FPS
high	766 FPS	813 FPS
ultra	689 FPS	670 FPS
1440p
low	829 FPS	885 FPS
medium	740 FPS	761 FPS
high	642 FPS	646 FPS
ultra	566 FPS	532 FPS
4K
low	567 FPS	644 FPS
medium	515 FPS	565 FPS
high	463 FPS	494 FPS
ultra	404 FPS	413 FPS

Open Core i7-13700K Open Xeon Max 9480

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i7-13700K and Xeon Max 9480

Core i7-13700K

The Core i7-13700K is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 27 September 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Raptor Lake, Raptor Cove, Gracemont (2022) architecture. It features 16 cores and 24 threads. Base frequency is 3.4 GHz, with boost up to 5.4 GHz. L3 cache: 30 MB (total). L2 cache: 2 MB (per core). Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1700. Thermal design power (TDP): 125 Watt. Memory support: DDR4, DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 45,784 points. Launch price was $409.

Xeon Max 9480

The Xeon Max 9480 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 10 January 2023 (2 years ago). It is based on the Sapphire Rapids HBM (2023) architecture. It features 56 cores and 112 threads. Base frequency is 1.9 GHz, with boost up to 3.5 GHz. L3 cache: 112.5 MB. L2 cache: 2 MB (per core). Built on 10 nm process technology. Socket: LGA4677. Thermal design power (TDP): 350 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-4800. Passmark benchmark score: 82,913 points. Launch price was $12,980.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i7-13700K packs 16 cores / 24 threads, while the Xeon Max 9480 offers 56 cores / 112 threads — the Xeon Max 9480 has 40 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5.4 GHz on the Core i7-13700K versus 3.5 GHz on the Xeon Max 9480 — a 42.7% clock advantage for the Core i7-13700K (base: 3.4 GHz vs 1.9 GHz). The Core i7-13700K uses the Raptor Lake, Raptor Cove, Gracemont (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Xeon Max 9480 uses Sapphire Rapids HBM (2023) (10 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-13700K scores 45,784 against the Xeon Max 9480's 82,913 — a 57.7% lead for the Xeon Max 9480. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 2,846 vs 1,900, a 39.9% lead for the Core i7-13700K that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 18,980 vs 55,000 (97.4% advantage for the Xeon Max 9480). L3 cache: 30 MB (total) on the Core i7-13700K vs 112.5 MB on the Xeon Max 9480.

Feature	Core i7-13700K	Xeon Max 9480
Cores / Threads	16 / 24	56 / 112+250%
Boost Clock	5.4 GHz+54%	3.5 GHz
Base Clock	3.4 GHz+79%	1.9 GHz
L3 Cache	30 MB (total)	112.5 MB+275%
L2 Cache	2 MB (per core)	2 MB (per core)
Process	Intel 7 nm-30%	10 nm
Architecture	Raptor Lake, Raptor Cove, Gracemont (2022)	Sapphire Rapids HBM (2023)
PassMark	45,784	82,913+81%
Cinebench R23 Multi	31,000	—
Geekbench 6 Single	2,846+50%	1,900
Geekbench 6 Multi	18,980	55,000+190%

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i7-13700K uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Xeon Max 9480 uses LGA4677 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR5-5600 memory speed. The Xeon Max 9480 supports up to 4096 GB of RAM compared to 192 GB — 182.1% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Core i7-13700K) vs 8 (Xeon Max 9480). PCIe lanes: 20 (Core i7-13700K) vs 80 (Xeon Max 9480) — the Xeon Max 9480 offers 60 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Intel Z790,Intel H770,Intel B760,Intel Z690,Intel H670,Intel B660,Intel H610 (Core i7-13700K) and C741 (Xeon Max 9480).

Feature	Core i7-13700K	Xeon Max 9480
Socket	LGA1700	LGA4677
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0+25%	PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-5600	DDR5-4800
Max RAM Capacity	192 GB	4096 GB+2033%
RAM Channels	2	8+300%
ECC Support	Yes	Yes
PCIe Lanes	20	80+300%

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Core i7-13700K has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Only the Xeon Max 9480 supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: true (Core i7-13700K) vs VT-x, VT-d (Xeon Max 9480). The Core i7-13700K includes integrated graphics (Intel UHD Graphics 770), while the Xeon Max 9480 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Xeon Max 9480 targets HPC Server. Direct competitor: Core i7-13700K rivals Ryzen 9 7900X; Xeon Max 9480 rivals EPYC 9684X.

Feature	Core i7-13700K	Xeon Max 9480
Integrated GPU	Yes	No
IGPU Model	Intel UHD Graphics 770	None
Unlocked	Yes	No
AVX-512	No	Yes
Virtualization	true	VT-x, VT-d
Target Use	—	HPC Server

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i7-13700K launched at $409 MSRP, while the Xeon Max 9480 debuted at $12980. On MSRP ($409 vs $12980), the Core i7-13700K is $12571 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i7-13700K delivers 111.9 pts/$ vs 6.4 pts/$ for the Xeon Max 9480 — making the Core i7-13700K the 178.4% better value option.